Personality Determinants Physical Determinants

Physical Determinants Body build Attractiveness Physical changes Physical defects Health conditions Accidents Body control

Body Build It involves height, weight and behavior of a person. Sheldon said that the influence of body build on personality is both direct and indirect.

Direct influence of body build on personality Effect of body build on activities Ectomorphs: Tall, thin body build Endomorphs: Round and soft builds Mesomorphs: Strong and muscular builds In activities involving speed, agility and endurance Mesomorphs are superior to other two. When a person compares what he can do with what his age mates can do, he is likely to develop feelings of superiority or inferiority which in turn effects his self concept.

Direct influence of body build on personality Effect of body build on energy level Endomorphs tends to be slow in his reactions, easy going type and fails to see any necessity of hurrying. Ectomorphs are usually nervous and excitable, often doing less and making more mistakes than the person who moves more slowly and deliberately. Mesomorphs are both energetic and efficient. Energy level is also influenced by age and health.

Direct influence of body build on personality Effect of body build on reactions to others How a person reacts to others is greatly affected by his body build. If a person is smaller or fatter than those with whom he is associated, he feels inferior. If he is larger (not too much) than the people he is with, he will feel superior.

Indirect influence If a person is satisfied with his body build, his positive attitudes are expressed in self confidence, self assurance and a wholesome self concept. Indirect effect of body build is greater than the direct effect.

Sources of satisfaction Judgments by others Judgments are often based on a cultural stereotype about the right body build. Traditional beliefs about the relationship between body build and personality type. Endomorph Mesomorph Ectomorph

Sources of satisfaction Judgment by others Influenced by the kind of personality the person has learned to associate with body weight. Influenced by body shape. E.g. Chubby looks in old age. Height is associated with maturity. Most people associate the way a person expends his energy with both his maturity and his level of adjustment.

Sources of satisfaction Childhood ideal Second major source of satisfaction a person has with his body comes from a favorable comparison of his body as it is with the ideal body image he built up in childhood.

Attractiveness Influence of physical attractiveness on personality is not direct, but indirect, stemming from the favorable attitudes of other people toward those who are attractive. An attractive looking person of any age is more appealing than one who is unattractive. If a person feels that his appearance is such that he will be judged positively, it will have a favorable effect on his personality. If a person varies from the norm in physical attractiveness, he also varies in satisfaction. Unattractive appearance may lead to deviant behavior If a person fails to improve his appearance, enough unfavorable self concepts may develop.

Physical Changes The body is constantly changing both externally and internally. When changes are slow, they have little effect on personality. But when they are rapid, the effect may be dramatic. Whether changes will results in an improved self concept or not will be determined by how the person reacts to the changes.

Direct and indirect effects of physical changes The direct effect comes from homeostatic disturbances and resulting shaping the energy level. The indirect effect of physical changes in personality involves positive or negative reaction to the changes.

Physical Defects Alfred stated that when some part of body is defected, the person develops the feeling of inferiority. Causes of defects: Some defects are by birth Some are acquired through illness, accident or aging Some are caused by stress and unfavorable emotional conditions.

Direct and indirect effects of Physical defects These affect personality directly by placing limitations on what the person can do and thus restricting the area within which he can develop a positive self concept. Indirectly, personality is affected by the way defects influence the attitude and treatment of significant people. E.g. physical handicaps are viewed more sympathetically.

Health conditions Good health contributes to good adjustment, which in turn contributes to good mental health. Poor health makes a person nervous, irritable and feel anxiety and stress.

Direct and indirect affects of health conditions Direct Effects Person’s health affects his appearance. If a person is feeling well, his motivation to do what he is capable of doing, is strong. It affects self concept. When a person is in good health, there is no limitations on what he can do except those imposed by his own abilities and the social environment. Indirect Effects If the individual is in good health, looking well, he is capable of doing what he wants to and if his emotional states are normal, he will get positive social reactions.

Accidents Traditional beliefs about the cause of accidents. More common from 4 to 15 years of age and after 65. More frequent and serious among males than among females.

Effects of accidents Direct effects cause from physical pain and from believing that he was born unlucky. Indirect effects: How significant people in their life react (sympathy or accusations of carelessness) How they interpret the cause of the accident (Bad luck or his fault)

Body Control It is personal and social asset which contributes to the person’s self concept. It directly effect as it determines what the person can do and how well he can do it. It fosters the development of self confidence. It encourages the feeling of social security. Indirectly, as body control effect the attitudes of significant people in the social group.